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Management:

Kolonel Piet Groenewald:  Managing Director
General-Major Tienie Groenewald: Strategist & WIPS2

Manager - Groblersdal:    Hans Pfahl
Manager - Marble Hall:     Rinando Zandberg
Manager - Loskop Dam:   Vino Emmauel
Manager - Middelburg:     Dirk Zandberg

The Team:

WIPS provides trained Khwe nature conservation rangers to commercial farmers, at present in the Stoffberg, Middelburg, Loskop Dam and Marble Hall areas. Initially the Khwe operatives cleared farms of snares, followed the tracks of poachers, called for the assistance of the SAPS and Nature Conservation when poachers where apprehended and recorded breaches in the game and security fences. They conducted game counts and studied game for sick animals etc.

Due to excellent tracking abilities of the Khwe trainees operatives, the functions of WIPS was soon expanded to recovering stolen cattle, goats and sheep, assisting the SAPS in tracking criminals responsible for robberies and farm attacks.

At present WIPS has 4 full time rhino teams, protecting 42 rhinos on private game farms. An additional 10 teams are deployed on a part time basis when needed, looking after approximately 70 rhinos in reserves.

WIPS thus employs 180 trained uniformed, and equipped rangers. They are equipped with uniforms, boots and other equipment such as cell phones and radios, binoculars, GPS, camping gear, rations and security equipment.

Most of the WIPS' security personnel have a connection with the old 31 and 32 battalions and is thus well-trained.

WIPS created the reputation that we never give up, the Khwe bushman are known to run a Oryx into the ground. In a recent attack on a farm the Khwe rangers tracked the criminals for 15 hours until they were apprehended with the assistance of local farmers. We just don’t give up until we have achieved our goals!